Motorists on I-465 around Indianapolis faced a frustrating delay late last month as truckers staged what they called a “slow roll protest.”
During the midday hours, nearly two-dozen drivers participated as a result of their disagreement with federally mandated electronic logging of hours.
For well over a year, truckers have been required to use electronic devices that monitor the hours they work. Drivers say this adversely affects their pay.
Federal regulators are now considering further changes to the rules that dictate when and how long drivers can be on the road.
Regulators argue that the electronic logging devices increase trucker accountability and safety on the road.
Trish Tedrow, an owner-operator and the event organizer told the media, “With the ELDs and the hours of service that we have, there’s no flexibility.”
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill said the truck drivers’ concerns are legitimate but questioned their method of protest.
Gary Langston, president of the Indiana Motor Truck Association, said he suspects many of the issues the truckers aimed to highlight with Thursday’s protest will be addressed during the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s review of its hours of service regulations.
Whether the new rules and regulations are fair to truckers is still a subject of debate. While some sympathy for these professional drivers is understandable, the facts are clear.
According to a survey conducted by the FMCSA and NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), the main reason behind commercial truck crashes are fatigued and overworked drivers. These crashes often sadly result in serious injuries and fatalities.
Tauber Law Offices has represented dozens of people who have been injured or killed as a result of truckers who still drive despite various forms of impairment. There are on-going discussions to improve these new laws so that they don’t have as much adverse effect on the income of the truckers.
Still, this is a good beginning, with a common goal for less tragedies on our highways involving big trucks.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a trucking accident caused by an irresponsible driver or a trucking company that has ignored safety regulations, please call Tauber Law. We will listen to the facts you provide. If we believe you have a case, we will aggressively fight for you until justice is served.
Sources include: WTHR and NHTSA
